Women's Soccer

GCSU Soccer Building from Confidence, Experience and Momentum to Attack Nations Best in 2009

Aug 11, 2009

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - Coming off a
groundbreaking season, a 13-3-4 record and a trip to the NCAA
National Tournament for the first time in program history, what
does the Georgia College & State University women's soccer team
and head coach Juan Pablo
Favero do for an encore? Play one of the toughest
schedules in the nation in an effort to prepare the Bobcats for
national success.

The Bobcats cracked the National Soccer Coaches Association of
America (NSCAA) National Top-25 for the first time in 2008 reaching
as high as No. 19. Each one of the Bobcat matches count for
in-region play this year, helping them bolster their all-important
region ranking as they look to make it two-straight trips to the
NCAA Tournament. The slate features a whopping seven teams that
played in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, and four from the NSCAA's Final
National Rankings. In addition, they face off with the 2007
National Champions among 11 teams that have been in the National
Tournament in the past two years.

"This team is ready for the challenge of this type of schedule,"
said Favero. "We've chosen to play these opponents to prepare the
team for the level of talent in a national tournament. It's an
important step toward the program's big goal."

The Bobcats return 16 letterwinners, including 14 that started
in games for the Bobcats a year ago. Add in a talented class of
eight newcomers, and the team is poised for another great run.

"Last year we had very little time to prepare for the season,"
he said. "This season, the team put in hard work in the spring and
over the summer on their own, so as a coach, I'm excited to build
off a full year of successful training."

The offense has also had a year to settle in, and the team has
embraced Favero's more possession-based international style very
well. The team's defense was its calling card in 2008, recording a
mind-boggling 13 shutouts and allowing just 10 goals on the year.
All of the defensive starters return, including a trio of All-Peach
Belt Conference (PBC) performers.

"We'll need to build on that defensive success from last year,"
he added. "The defense will be much more tested so we can't
overlook our defensive effort this season. We're going to have a
lot more 1-0 and 2-1 matches this season than 5-0 or 6-1."

It's the tight contests that are the focus in this year's
preseason. The reality is such that one-goal games will be more the
norm this year, and those tight, tough games are often won by a few
critical moments. The squad will need to be "mentally tough" to
come out on top of those critical moments.

"Thankfully we're focusing on a shared responsibility to put the
ball in the net this year. We have enough talent up front to expect
the scoring to be taken care of. It's easier to defend a
one-dimensional team, and that's just not us this year. Scoring can
come from nearly anyone on the field."

When asked about the difficult schedule, Favero said "we could
win more, we could lose more" but he's confident his squad will
respond well and build on last season's success.

"The coaching staff noticed last year that the team played their
best soccer against the tougher opponents," he said. "That a sign
to us that we're ready for the next step. The experience and
confidence gained from last year is key to the goal of winning
National Championships. Every good result against a tough team
gives us that much more to build upon."

2008 helped each member of this team develop a "belief in self
and each other" so that the team can buy into the plan and have a
confidence to accomplish great things, according to Favero.

"It's important to remember this is a new year," Favero added.
"We have no obligation to compare ourselves to last season. This is
a new group of players that have already begun to mesh well
together to battle some tough teams. We've improved our talent and
depth in many areas and are looking forward to the season."

The preseason training began for the Bobcats Monday, Aug. 10
with drills and fitness evaluations. The team will practice this
week before inviting Division I Mercer University in for an
exhibition match Sunday, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. at Bobcat Field. Even
the exhibitions aren't easy. Can't make it to the game? Follow the
broadcast on GCSURadio.com or 88.9FM WGUR.

The GCSU Department of Athletics, winners of the 2008-09 PBC
Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the
NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, GCSU prides
itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by
the Bobcats' multiple appearances in post-season competition as
well as documented academic success and community-service
involvement. Sign up at Twitter.com username GCSUSID for
up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCSUBobcats.com to nominate
your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GCSU Athletics
Hall of Fame.